noveldrama
Chapter 786 786 512 Need Time_3
Chapter 786 786 512 Need Time_3
?Chapter 786: Chapter 512: Need Time_3 Chapter 786: Chapter 512: Need Time_3 Gee clumsily dribbled and broke through, forcing a foul from Big Z beneath the basket.
Yu Fei watched the scene unfold before his eyes.
Gee prepared to take the free throws.
Yu Fei began to recall the refereeing standards since the first game.
In his personal opinion, although both games were played at the Staples Center, the Lakers’ officiating advantage was not as obvious as before.
Even, Yu Fei felt it was easier for them to commit fouls.
This is the Lakers’ home court, and every visiting team should be mentally prepared to start the game 5-10 free throws behind.
But up until now in the Western Conference Finals, Yu Fei really hadn’t seen the Lakers have a home whistle advantage.
Does this mean the officiating is fair?
Indeed, such officiating is fair, but big city teams have always been representatives of the “if I’m not benefiting, I’m at a disadvantage” attitude, especially top basketball markets like the Lakers and Knicks. So why has the Lakers’ most important home-court advantage vanished?
When Alonzo Gee made one of two free throws, Yu Fei thought about the “Decision” and its bad influence across the entire League.
For the League, players like Kobe and James should not be on the same team, as franchise players they should be the blockbuster products of NBA cities. Now, Lakers have both hot commodities, which won’t make the Lakers earn more money because their base in Los Angeles is solid, and the market is saturated.
There are signs that James conspired with Kobe much earlier when he was still a member of the Cavaliers, and to the owners, what could be more annoying than that?
A player-driven collusion system challenges the League’s rules to this day; it’s subversive in nature, and if Zhan Ke succeeds, it will be widely imitated by others.
Therefore, the League has a strong desire not to see the Lakers win the championship.
However, they can’t blatantly rig games for the League’s second-largest market either.
So, blowing fair whistles on the Lakers’ home court, but what about away games? Have the SuperSonics taken over the Lakers, becoming the first NBA team in history to enjoy a 5-10 free throw advantage at home against the Lakers?
Yu Fei didn’t know; he needed data, needed to review the first game’s video, and needed to test the refereeing standards more in the ongoing game.
However, a lower-tier player like Alonzo Gee managing to draw a foul on Marc Gasol in a debatable play is certainly not common.
Since James returned, Kobe entered his comfort zone.
Kobe didn’t need to carry the burden of finalizing the Triangle Offense as before; he just needed to position himself against players like Alonzo Gee or call a screen to shake him off.
Kobe’s performance earlier had proved he was feeling hot tonight.
James passed directly to him.
After catching the ball, Kobe shot a three-pointer and, sure enough, scored.
Yu Fei called for Durant to set a screen, but the Lakers decided to double-team the ball-handler in advance.
Yu Fei had no choice but to pass the ball to Durant before the screen was set.
Durant got the ball, seemingly lost in thought; throughout this game, the SuperSonics’ highlights had been Yu Fei’s and Chris Bosh’s.
He appeared dim in front of Zhan Ke.
The Nike representative present would surely report his performance back to headquarters.
At that time, the old-timers would probably think his current strength was not yet enough to carry the mantle.
Durant wasn’t desperate, as the series was still long, but he wanted to prove he could bounce back after hitting rock bottom.
So he didn’t follow Yu Fei’s designed play and instead made space, deciding to take on James one-on-one.
It was a reckless move, but it was one of Durant’s current privileges.
He was entitled to demand the ball for a one-on-one anytime and anywhere.
Seeing this, Yu Fei decisively moved aside.
Durant made a series of fakes with huge extents, but with the rested James back on the court, his energy had returned to its peak, and his tank-like body stood like a mountain ahead.
Even as the Son of the United States, Durant could only attempt a forced jump shot.
Such a shot was unlikely to go in.
Yu Fei was sure it wouldn’t go in and even predicted where the rebound would fall, positioning himself early to grab it.
The ball indeed bounced off the rim, and as it fell, Yu Fei seemed to have quicker reflexes than anyone else, leaping to catch the ball.
Without landing, Yu Fei tapped the ball to Little O.
Little O, with Pau Gasol defending, went up strong and drew another foul.
“My bad!”
Little O felt guilty for not converting the and-one.
Yu Fei patted his shoulder but didn’t say anything.
The core players are always the most sensitive to the officiating because one of their potential opponents on the court is the referee.
Only by understanding the referee’s standards can they know how to defend.
Earlier it was Gee, now it was Little O, they both earned fouls on defense plays that could have gone either way.
Yu Fei didn’t believe this was a coincidence, but he still needed more samples.
The Lakers, protectively, subbed out Pau Gasol for Big Jah.
Unfortunately for the SuperSonics, their free-throw shooting tonight wasn’t good.
Little O also made one of two.
After that, Yu Fei had Moro’s substitute, Larry Hughes, who had actively come over at the trade deadline, attack the basket.
Hughes didn’t draw a foul, but SuperSonics’ aggression under the basket made the Lakers cautious on defense. With a light confrontation defense, Hughes scored over Big Z’s resistance.
Yet when the Lakers brought their starters back in, their offensive momentum intensified.
For the SuperSonics, it was either Yu Fei’s one-on-one, drawing fouls, or Hughes’ sudden behind-the-scenes scoring, while the Lakers played much smoother. Kobe’s state was ignited again, getting passes from James; his offense was much simpler. Moreover, shooters like Richard Hamilton began hitting three-pointers.